Paraesthesia: .NET Development and Some Pictures of My Cat

The Babemobile

I took my
car in
to the shop to get the key scratch
fixed today. I’m not sure
when it’ll be done. I hope it will be soon, because instead of my car
(which I love), I’m driving The Babemobile.

The Babemobile earned its name because that is precisely what it is
not. It’s a 1988(?) Plymouth Voyager. There are several issues with
it:
- It’s a 4 cylinder engine. In a minivan. Floor it, and it might go
50mph. Downhill, with a tailwind.
- The hood is rusting through, which gives the paint a nice, abused
patina.
- It shoots black smoke out of the tailpipe. I tried to convince
myself that it was just a camouflaging device, similar to the ink
that squids shoot at predators. But then when Scotty called up from
the engine room “She can’t take much more of
this!”
I knew it was all just a lie.
- It turns like a wounded
tugboat.
I’ve taken to calling out directions in terms of “port” and
“starboard.”
- Everything on it is loose. As you drive, the whole van chatters
and squeaks like a small herd of lab rats.

That’s not a comprehensive list by any means, but you get the idea.

Anyway, all that totals up to is that I really just want my car back so
we can donate this thing to the Humane Society
or something. Maybe that $500 can feed some
kitties or something.

I suppose I shouldn’t complain. If the van didn’t exist, I’d be renting
a car right now, which costs money. Free is [negligibly] better than
not free.